The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-10-15
"TEMPORAL POWER OF THE POPE"
BY PAUL BROWN.
Philadelphia, Pa.

have just been reading i'll THE UNI
| vERsALIsT for Oct. l, an unsigned arti-
Gle on the temporal power of the pope.
| In it the writer maintains that the SOW
eTeignty Of the pope in temporal matters
has passed away forever. 1t is unwise,
impolitic, and unsafe to be an alarmist.
The writer has neither disposition nor
inclination to be one. Bat it is always
safe to be on The safe side; it is always
wise to look disagreeable fact square
in the face. Whatever may be the opin-
ion of the writer of the above-named
article, the writer of this one must hold
to what he believes to be true and that
| is this: That at no time in the past
quarter of century has the Catholic
church been SO potent 9 factor ir tenn.
poraT affairs as at the present moment.
Not only is this seen in the field of
European politics, where the shrewd
and diplomatic Leo has been adrojtly
sowing seeds to be reaped later, but
pre-eminently is it seen in America.
AS l write this article OH the evening
of this 295h day Of September, there is
in progress at large hotel, less than a
dozen blocks from me, one Of the most
imposing banquets-if banquet may
be said to be such when men of impos-
ing position are gathered at the tables
ever rendered to any man in this
great n northwest. 1t is not rendered to
a man for his distinctive patriotism, for
his love for country, for his devotion to
his fellow-men; it is not rendered to
man who has spent lifetime for the
elevation of his race or the advance
ment of popular education or popular
rule; it is not given in honor of a states
man or hero, or philanthropist. 1t
is given simply and solely because the
man who is the central figure of the
evening has reached the place where
the laws Of the class he belongs to per-
nit him to wear the gorgeous colors of
a cardinal. Net because he is a patriot.
not because he is a philanthropist,
not because ne is an American in a no.
BILE political position because he is
a priest. Cardinal Gibbons the man, is
not being feted in this city tonight,
but Cardinal Gibbons the Catholic.
presume from all l have heard of the
occasion that there are at least 300
Catholics and probably hundred non
Catholics at This banquet, and some of
the best-kroWu speakers in the State
are TO respond 70 toasts. mention
this only as an illustration of what this
Catholic church is doing to perpetuate
and to strengthen itself in the United
States.
While the pope is, as far as he dares.
putting his forces into the politics of
Europe, he is even more actively en-
gagged, through his leal and loyal fol-
lowers, in gaining a powerful position
in the New World, America to-day is
the pope. America is the hope of Ca
tlApAlNAoAlA' AAAAtAlGd VIII become. III LHG
Catholic church can so make it, the
home Of a spiritless, ignorant, priest
ridden people. Disguise it as they may,
the fundamental principle Of successful
Catholicism is an unenlightened people;
the basic idea unadulterated ignorance.
In the little town of MelrOse, in this
State, where there is a large Catholic
population-what have they been try
ing to do in the last few years? Why,
that which they will do in every city,
town and hamlet in the land if they get
the chance-use the public school fund
for the education of children in the
Catholic faith. In this town of Mel
rose within the past four months there
has been such a c0mmotion as the peo-
pie of the town probably never before
knew, because of the open and avowed
! intention on the part of the Catholic